DRINKS can manufacturer Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) has announced plans to develop a £150 million ($200m) facility in Newtownabbey.
The packaging giant said the new plant at Global Point Business Park, expected to be operational by 2023, will serve the growing needs of its customers in Ireland, the UK and Europe.
It will also supply Coca-Cola HBC’s major bottling and canning operation in Lisburn.
AMP, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is 75 per cent owned by the Ardagh Group, the international packaging group which traces its origins back to glass manufacturing in Dublin in the 1930’s.
The group operates 23 production facilities in nine countries, employing more than 5,000 people. It recorded sales in the region of $3.5 billion in 2020.
AMP said the $200m development in Newtownabbey is part of a multi-billion-dollar investment plan for what it said will be “the construction of new, infinitely recyclable, metal packaging capacity” in Europe, North America and Brazil.
The company said it will lead to the creation of a large number of full-time jobs for engineers, technicians and other roles.
The development is currently at the pre-planning stage.
AMP chief executive, Oliver Graham, said: “This exciting project is an important part of AMP’s global investment programme.
“We are delighted to be investing in Northern Ireland supporting our clients’ sustainability needs and further reducing our carbon footprint by locating capacity closer to our end customers.”
Marcel Martin, from Coca-Cola HBC, said: “It is great to see this investment in the new can making facility and in Northern Ireland, especially as it will supply high-quality beverage cans to our plants. “With our own state-of-the-art production facility in Knockmore Hill, Lisburn, Ardagh’s investment showcases the importance of partnership to bringing shared value to suppliers and customers and aligns with our desire to shorten our supply chain to reduce emissions and buy local where possible and support local jobs and communities.”
David Spratt, head of AMP Europe, added: “We plan to have the new state of the art plant operational during 2023 and we expect to commence recruitment in 2022.”
He also added that “This investment is supported by key AMP customers and will have capacity for further expansion to service additional growth in customer demand.”
